[IndianaTrails] RE : Pipeline across Indiana

[dmvirgil at earthlink.net]

Since Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is a federal agency, I assume that individuals are like an ant fighting an elephant.  We need someone with more clout helping us fight the battle.  I suggest we call write Gov. Mitch Daniels.  We put our time and effort into the state wide trails plan and here's a hugh opportunity to bring one of the 6 visionary state trails, the B&O Trail, into existance.  
I understand that the Rockies Express Pipeline will be spending over $3 million per mile to put the pipeline in.  They can use someone of that to use eminent domain and save the B&O corridor in one piece.
Here's the Governor's address:
Governor Mitch Daniels
200 W. Washington St. Rm 206
Indianapolis 46204

Also I understand that Cleo Duncan from District 67, from Greensburg is very interested in this.  I think her number is 812-663-5595.

Diana Virgil


President
B&O Trail Association
dmvirgil at earthlink.net
317-852-3838
www.BOtrail.org


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kevin Heber 
To: list at indianatrails.org
Cc: Ray R. Irvin
Sent: 9/17/2006 11:36:05 PM 
Subject: [IndianaTrails] RE : Pipeline across Indiana


See more about this in the article below and on the page http://www.rexpipeline.com/east_faqs.html.  My guess is that we need some high power and trail-friendly congressmen pronto to explain the trail opportunities and $-saving benefits to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) before they make their decision on the final route in 2008.  Now having seen the maps, it looks distressingly close to the B&O Trail alignment.  The B&O already has utilities underneath.  It would be utterly and completely absurd to carve a new alignment for a pipeline with the B&O only miles away.

We should get the national RTC involved, since they are in Washington and seem to respond well to these sorts of challenges.  I'm going to make calls Monday.  If someone has any inroads to our US Senators/Reps and/or FERC, I hope those are being pursued as well.  We're not being typical NIMBY's here; we're being smart opportunists.  Is there an acronym for Don't Be Stupid In My BackYard?

Kevin


-----Original Message-----
From: Hall Virgil [mailto:hallvirgil at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 10:04 PM
To: Kevin Heber
Cc: Ray R. Irvin
Subject: FW: [IndianaTrails] Pipeline across Indiana


Kevin,

The Rockies Express Pipeline will cross the B&O Trail corridor twice near Montezuma, Indiana and runs closely parallel to it for about 15 miles in Indiana.  

Although the CSX (formerly B&O) corridor is still in use in Illinois, it runs parallel to it for at least 65 miles in Illinois.  I would image that CSX would like to earn rent/easement payments for sharing their railroad corridor as they have done with the fiber-optic cable under the B&O Trail / CSX corridor.  

Seems like the Rockies Express Pipeline professed intention and pledge to use existing utility corridors is being ignored.

Hall Virgil





 
Pipeline concerns sought
THE ENQUIRER 
Butler County residents can voice concerns and ask questions tonight about a proposed cross-country natural-gas pipeline that would run through the northern, rural part of the county into Warren County. 

The 7 p.m. meeting will take place at the Edgewood High School auditorium, 5005 Oxford State Road, Trenton. 

The multibillion-dollar Rockies Express Pipeline would extend 1,663 miles from Colorado to eastern Ohio. About 67 percent of the proposed route follows existing easements already granted for other utilities. Adjustments to the pipeline's path are possible before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission takes action on the project, possibly in early 2008. 

Rockies company representatives are examining possible sites now, and affected property owners have been notified. 

FERC decides where the pipeline would go and weighs a multitude of factors, ranging from environmental impact to preservation of culturally significant sites
 



From: list-bounces at indianatrails.org [mailto:list-bounces at indianatrails.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Heber
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 5:27 PM
To: list at indianatrails.org
Subject: [IndianaTrails] Pipeline across Indiana
 
Below is a message I received from a concerned horseback rider in Franklin.  Does anyone have more info on this cross-state pipeline?  I've heard stories about this but am similarly frustrated that there is seemingly nothing that we can do to steer the course of the pipeline toward planned trail alignments such as the National Road Heritage Trail.   They apparently have federal authority just like the RR's did (and still do) when they were laying new track.  Thanks for info anyone cares to share.  ~Kevin
 
-----Original Message----
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:38 
comments: Rockies Express Pipeline is seeking permission from FERC to run a 42-inch natural gas pipeline across Indiana. Go to their website and look at their county maps (Rockiesexpress.com) in particular Owen County and Putnam County where there are existing rail trails with more proposed. I went to a meeting in Greenwood on Tuesday night. this meeting was run by FERC subcontractors who are doing the Environmental Assessment. Most Johnson County residents are opposing this pipeline. I submitted comments to FERC representatives regarding the impact this pipeline will have on recreational trails. Just thought I would give you a heads up. I do not think there has been enough public input on this and not all the proper state agencies are aware of the proposed pipeline. 
 
 
 
OKI is a council of local governments, business organizations and community groups 
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